New local restaurant group ready to party

Another City Commission meeting, another party. Lawrence city commissioners tonight will consider granting a new restaurant group approval to use South Park for a local food festival in early October. [Lawrence Originals][1] - a group of 15 Lawrence-based, non-chain restaurants - plans to set up booths in South Park from about 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 8. Patrons will be able to purchase $1 tickets to sample various food and drink offerings. The group is the brainchild of Doug Holiday, who is an owner of Bigg's BBQ. Holiday had heard about a local restaurant group forming in Florida, and he thought it made perfect sense for Lawrence. "Lawrence has always prided itself on being unique," Holiday said. "This is a way to support that." The group prohibits big national chains from joining its ranks. Basically, Holiday said, it is open to restaurants where customers are likely to go into an establishment and be able to meet the owner or CEO. City commissioners at their meeting tonight are being asked to give approval for the group to use South Park, and to approve a variance that allows beer to be sold in the park. The request continues a trend of local organizations asking the city to support local celebrations. But unlike [the last group][2] to come before the City Commission, the Lawrence Originals are not asking for any city funding for their festival. Commissioners meet at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. [1]: http://www.lawrenceoriginals.com/ [2]: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/sep...